These WNBA All-Stars came to play… on the Orange Carpet.

Aflac boosts WNBA All-Star purse to $170K

Aflac is raising the All-Star stakes, as the insurance giant expanded its partnership with the WNBPA to up tonight’s total prize money to a record $170,000.

• The purse is divided into six payouts across Friday’s 3-Point Contest ($40,000, $30,000, and $15,000) and Shooting Stars ($85,000, split TBD), with second- and third-place 3-Point Contest finishers cashing in for the first time in WNBA All-Star history. 

• Aflac’s commitment has climbed steadily in the deal’s third year, growing from $110,000 in 2024 to $115,000 in 2025 before making the $55,000 leap. (See full report)

Big bucks: Past recipients have put their All-Star earnings toward homes, charitable foundations, and community investment — with 2024 winner Allisha Gray’s combined earnings totaling more than half her annual salary.

• Aflac’s contribution comes alongside the league’s new CBA-mandated awards, with all 3-Point Contest participants receiving $10,000 each, while the winner gets an additional $20,000.

• “This multi-tier prize structure is a historic moment for WNBA players that showcases the value of Aflac’s supplemental support,” said WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. 

Tune in: 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend tips off tonight at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Portland gears up for Gotham showdown

No. 4 Portland is aiming to stop the skid, entering tonight’s heavyweight clash with No. 2 Gotham after dropping back-to-back matches this month.

• The Thorns are chasing the Bats up NWSL table after Gotham drew level with league-leader Washington at 30 points apiece last weekend.

• “It’s always difficult coming to Portland and playing in this environment,” said interim Gotham manager Shaun Harris. “But at the same time we relish these kinds of moments.” (See full standings)

Taking stock: Portland should expect an boost via forward Morgan Weaver, as the veteran returns from a knee injury that’s kept her sidelined since November 2024.

• Star striker Sophia Wilson tops the Thorns in goals with seven on the season, while Pietra Tordin leads in assists with six across 16 games.

• “Portland is a very good team,” said Gotham defender Bruninha. “They have very good players and very fast players, so we need to give them our full attention.” (See full preview)

Tune in: Portland hosts Gotham tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

NWSL stars headline WAFCON rosters

NWSL stars are stepping into the global spotlight, as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations lands in Morocco on Sunday — with World Cup berths on the line.

• WAFCON was originally slated for March, but CAF abruptly postponed the continental tournament and moved it outside an official FIFA window.

• The 16-team competition’s top four finishers qualify outright for the 2027 World Cup, while two additional teams advance to an inter-continental playoff. (See full format)

Scouting report: The tournament features 11 NWSL players across eight teams, including Nigeria’s Gift Monday (Washington) and Michelle Alozie (Chicago), Cote d’Ivoire’s Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington), and Mali’s Aïssata Traoré (Boston).

• Two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga makes her WAFCON debut on Tuesday, as Malawi readies for its first-ever finals appearance against reigning champion Nigeria.

• Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji lead Zambia into Tuesday’s battle with Egypt, as the Copper Queens look to avenge last year’s 5-0 quarterfinal loss to Nigeria. (See full rosters)

Stay tuned: WAFCON kicks off Sunday, with select matches streaming live on CAF TV.

As All-Star Weekend lands in the Windy City, JWS is teaming up with State Farm Chicago Sky star Kamilla Cardoso for the action-packed Chicago City Guide.

• Get to know the All-Star city, as Cardoso runs down all her favorite hot spots from the shores of Lake Michigan to the historic architecture boat tour and everything in between — including a world-famous Chicago hot dog.

• “If you’re coming to Chicago, you should most definitely try the Chicago-style hot dog,” she tells viewers. “And try without ketchup, because that’s how they teach me to do it.”

Tune in: Catch Kamilla Cardoso’s Chicago City Guide on YouTube.

AUSL makes broadcast history

Pro softball is staking its claim, as the No. 2 Chicago Bandits and No. 1 Utah Talons kick off the 2026 AUSL championship series on ABC tomorrow — marking network television’s first-ever pro softball game.

• Chicago set the 2025 title rematch with last night’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Portland Cascade, advancing behind Ailana Agbayani’s RBI single despite committing a season-high five errors.

• “Not often at any level — little league, college, pro — do you have five errors and win a ball game,” said Bandits manager Shonda Stanton. “But that’s what it’s about: being gritty.” (See full recap)

Big screen: ESPN is producing the series for the first time, bringing 23+ cameras, a drone, and live player mics to Texas A&M’s Davis Diamond, while parent company Disney stages a Toy Story takeover with Woody and Jessie handling pregame festivities.

• The news builds on reports that the second-year league’s regular-season viewership rose 183% year-over-year, while merchandise sales jumped 200%. (See full release)

Tune in: Game 1 starts Saturday at 1 PM ET (ABC), with Game 2 slated for Sunday at 2 PM ET (ESPN).

Scottish Open wind wrecks 1st-round scorecards

Dundonald Links bared its teeth yesterday, as Korea’s Jenny Shin and 2024 winner Lauren Coughlin opened with 6-under 66s to share the lead after a windswept 2026 Scottish Open opening round.

• Coughlin rolled in a 30-foot putt on her closing hole, while Shin credited her accuracy off the tee to firm and fast play. 

• Elsewhere it got ugly, as world No. 7 Charley Hull chipped four times on the par-5 fifth hole en route to a nine, Georgia Hall posted a 10 on the 14th in her first tournament since giving birth, defending champ No. 5 Lottie Woad shot 74 to finish 2-over, and 29 of the field’s 144 failed to break 80. (See full leaderboard)

Tune in: Scottish Open coverage runs through Sunday on Golf Channel, as the LPGA’s best vie for a cut of the $2 million purse. 

Gainbridge Super League lands 1st CBA

Another league is at the bargaining table, as the Gainbridge Super League and its players’ union tentatively agreed to the top-flight league’s first-ever CBA this week.

• Players voted to unionize soon after the league’s 2024 launch, joining the men’s USL Championship and USL League One in the USL Players Association. 

• The agreement locks in labor stability through the 2031 Women’s World Cup, and now awaits final ratification as both sides hammer out remaining details. (See full report)

Stay tuned: The Super League kicks off an abbreviated fall season this August, before shifting to mirror the NWSL calendar in 2027. (See full schedule)

Number of the day

72

StudBudz Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams kicked off their second-annual 72-hour All-Star livestream yesterday in Chicago.